Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-31
POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
The Place from Which Major Moor,
Directs the Campaign Against Crime.

The tall brick house, corner OF 5th and streets,
which belongs to the HELEN estate. and was for
merry dwelling house, is at present occupied as
the headquarters OF the Metropolitan police de-
partment. Here all important crimes are talked
over, criminals descriptions taken, and their pic
lures kept, and Officers or the department receive
all kinds Of complaints. ON the first or basement
floor is the detective Office which is in charge OF
Inspector Swlndels, with Officer WIN. b. German
as clerk. The front room is partitioned of, and
resembles on one side the Office OF the receiving
and paying tellers Ia a bank, while on the other
side 1t presents the appearance OF loan office.
Inspector Swfndefls occupies a desk behind the
partition, and his atten ion is constantly demand
ed by persons who call for information or 10 make
complaints The oricer is often referred TO as the
bureau OF information. The inspector until re-
esn.i tne pasaoa mentioned Was ~
annoyed by cranks, whose visits were frequent,
and who took most OF the officiaPs time. For that
az long range Persons who imagine them
Information, and delight in doing what
up case. Scarcely ten minutes pass during the
day that the telephone bell is not heard and some
Information wanted. Al complaints sent 70 the
tigation, and much OF his time is taken up in writ
ing letters and answering communications FIRE.
send letters inqiliring about the social standing
OF some individual. Such communications are
usually answered, but not In a satisfactory man.
ner as the Information Is usually wanted. not TO
assist in criminal but In civil or private mat
ter. In the back room the six detectives have
desks, and each morning at O'Clock they meet to
hand In their daily reports TO the major. Major
Moore has the front room on the second floor and
holds daily receptions. He Is sometimes compelled
to leave room full OF callers In order 10 attend TO
pressing business. Chief Clerk sylvester occupies
desk In the captains ONCE, adjoining the majors
room, and like other officials has TO answer Ques-
lions all day long. In little back room
on the same floor sits Sanitary Offcer Teeple,
who is sometimes called "chief OF the bureau
OF cranKap All cases Of poverty are referred to
him as are all crankS whom the authorities desire
TO send from the District. he keeps q record OF
all crauks who are sent away, and statement or
their peculiarties. On the third moor all records
OF arrests are kept, the rooms being In charge OF
Mr. j. Arthur Kemp. the Stenographer. On this
floor Ofcers Slater and Mattihgiy are detailed TO
assist In making up the records OF the work done
by the department. including the names OF all per-
sons who have been IN charge OF the police since
the organization OF the force. On the same floor
the trials OF policemen are heard The trial board
meet each Wednesday and sits in secret session
10 hear the evidence against Officers. The public
never knows the nature OF the evidence given
against an accused Of11cer. On the fourth Moor
are the onices OF the District telephone and IRE
alarm services through which all alarms OF nre
are sent and all telephone messages are received
The battery rooms are on the first floor in the
rear, and the wires connecting the building with
the different poles form thick network, and then
spreading out, run In every direction from the
building. Police headquarters Is the center OF a
great web OF wires that spread all over the city.